United 58 warm up for finals football with win over St George City
Sydney United 58 earned a 2-0 win over St George City on Sunday afternoon at Penshurst Park to conclude the regular 2025 NPL Men’s NSW campaign and have booked itself an Elimination Final date this Wednesday night against rivals Marconi.
Second half-goals to Marco Arambasic and Mason Wells secured the win for United 58 as they go into finals football in winning form.
The match got off a chance-shy first 10 minutes as the teams took turns of holding possession.
In the 19th minute, United 58 sprung forward with striker Arambasic attempting an audacious lob from outside the box that fell just over the bar.
Three minutes later, the hosts responded through Goncalo Agrelos who blasted the ball at United 58 goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic from the left of the box.
The visitors had an even better chance 27 minutes in as Aiden Milicevic raced in behind down the right into the box but hit his shot narrowly over.
City started to work their way into the match and created a couple of opportunities before the break.
With three regular first-half minutes to play, City knitted together a nice move on the right. Matthew Wahby sent in a right-sided ball that popped out to Levi Sciuriaga whose effort bounced wide of the left post.
Moments later, the hosts threatened again as Louis Khoury fired a long-range strike that flew behind for a goal kick.
A slow tempo first half concluded with the deadlock still to be broken at Penshurst Park.
Nine minutes into the second half, United 58 made the breakthrough. Carlos De Oliveira clipped a delicate ball over the top for Arambasic to run through on goal, chopping inside and placing a finish into the bottom left corner.
The home side responded positively to going behind and purposefully pursued an equaliser. In the 65th minute, Dakota Askew took aim from outside the area for the side, rolling the ball harmlessly past the left post.
As the half dragged on, City sought exploit set pieces, as several dangerous deliveries were whipped into the box, however, United did well to repel them.
In the 84th minute, Peter Kekeris’ left-sided corner bounced near the goal line, before it was desperately cleared away by the visitors.
Deep into stoppage time, United doubled their advantage.
Finn McBride received the ball in the left of the area and saw his initial effort saved by Jack Kenny before rattling the crossbar on the follow-up. The ball came out to Wells who took his time and picked out the bottom left corner.
Wells’ goal proved the final action of the match as United 58 secured a solid win over St George City.
United 58 coach Ante Juric said he was pleased to get through the match without his squad sustaining any injuries and to go into the finals with a win.
“We were quite comfortable except for the last 20 minutes,” he said.
“It was ok – a little bit scrappy, but that’s probably to be expected.
“We stuck in there defensively and we were very organised which is good.”
City coach Manny Spanoudakis said the performance offered an opportunity look at how the team can improve in 2026.
“It was a big effort, the boys tried really hard,” he said.
“It was fine margins and unfortunately a couple of lapses of concentration in the second half were the difference in the end.
“They took advantage of a couple of good chances, and we were not good in and around the box with our final quality of delivery.
“It was not a bad platform for what we’re building for next season.”
United 58 will now take on arch rivals Marconi Stallions in this Wednesday’s Elimination Final in what is sure to be a hotly contested match up between two iconic clubs in NSW.
Match Stats
St George City FA 0
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Marco Arambasic 54’, Mason Wells 90+2’)
Sunday 31 August 2025
Penshurst Park, Penshurst
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Matthew Mcorist
Fourth Official: Blake Sanchez-Cruz
St George City FA: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Matthew Wahby, 4. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 7. Levi Sciuriaga (6. Tarik Ercan 72’), 8. Dominic Cox, 10. Paolo Mitry (99. Peter Kekeris 72’), 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 17. Noah Oven, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (3. Hugo Mcateer 72’), 23. Dakota Askew (16. William Kounnas 72’), 33. Louis Khoury (24. Zakariya Hammoud 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Cameron Kemp
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Vedran Janjetovic, 3. Bailey Rule, 4. Adrian Vlastelica (27. Roman Culina 46’), 8. Mario Shabow (24. Benjamin Seeto 46’), 10. Carlos De Oliveira (23. Mason Wells 61’), 13. Finn McBride, 14. Liam McGing, 15. Adrian Knez, 19. Aidan Milicevic (12. Richard Darko 55’), 28. Marco Arambasic (9. Patrick Antelmi 61’), 36. Gabriel Tilo
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Josip Orlovic
Yellow Cards: Liam McGing 13’, Marco Arambasic 61’, Roman Culina 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Gabriel Tilo (SU58)
2 – Nathan Grimaldi (SGC)
1 – Carlos De Oliveira (SU58)
Report by Tim Gibson
